Coupling for sewer cleaning rods



April 26, 1938. BURTON 2,115,194 I COUPLING FOR SEWER CLEANING RODS Filed Nov. 17, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l Afiorneys;

April 26, 1938. s. BURT ON I COUPLING FOR SEWER CLEANING RODS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 17, 1936 Inventor \J 66036 Bure on/ Attorneys Patented Apr. 26, 1938 UNITED STATES fArsNr oFFifcg COUPLING FOR SEWER cLsANING Robs George Burton, Gaston, Ind.

Application November 17, 1936, Serial No. 111,313

1 Claim.

This invention relates to that classification of structures now generally identified as sewer cleaning rods and has reference in particular to a specifically new type coupling for pivotally and separably connecting the companion rods together.

Removing sewage and clogged matter from sewerage systems through the instrumentality of disconnectable pivotally jointed rod devices, is now common practice. Generally speaking the device is made up of a plurality of wooden sticks of appropriate shape and length, these being separably coupled together at coordinated ends.

The purpose of the present invention, as above implied, is to provide a new type coupling between the wooden sticks or rods, the coupling being made up of complemental male and female members or sections, and these being separably and pivotally joined through the instrumentality of safe, reliable, and simple uniting means.

The precise details relied upon to import structural newness and features of refinement will become more readily apparent from the accompanying drawings and detailed description thereof.

In the drawings wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the v1ews:

Figure l is a side or edge elevational view of a sewer cleaning rod assembly or structure embodying the improved couplings constituting the novelty of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged close-up elevational view depicting the coupling means with greater particularity.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional and elevational view, the section being taken on the plane of the irregular line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a transverse or cross sectional View on the plane of the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Figs. 6 and 7 are elevational or detail views of the companion units or sections of the improved coupling means.

Referring now to the drawings by distinguishing reference numerals, it will be observed that the wooden sticks or rods are denoted by the numerals 8 and these are more or less conventional in design. They are generally rectangular in cross sectional form and of suitable length. The adjacent or proximate ends of the rods are joined together by the companion male and female coupling units or members 9 and I0 respectively of the type shown in Figs. 6 and 7. These coupling units or members are preferably in the form of aluminum castings. Each casting includes what may be called a channel-shaped portion l l and the rods are located therein between the side flanges and secured in place by bolts or equivalent fasteners as indicated at I2 in Fig. 5. 5 At one end, the body portion of the section or unit 9 is bifurcated and the furcations are-denoted by the numerals l3, these being disposed in spaced parallel order and having therebetween opposed vertical rigid studs or pins I4 and 10 !5 respectively. The body portion of the section it is in the nature of a shank shaped and proportioned to fit between the furcations. The shank may be said to be of general rectangular cross sectional form and it is denoted by the numeral 15 [6. In one longitudinal edge is a substantially diagonal notch ll terminating in a rounded crotch portion forming a seat l8 for the pin I4. On this same side is an appropriately shaped retention hook l9 engageable with the pin. On the op- 20 posite side, the extension or shank I6 is formed with a substantially V-shaped notch 20 to receive the retention pin [5. This notch formation in effect defines an abutment or guard finger as at 2|, which is. enagageable also with said pin l5. Thus, by slipping the shank H5 in between the furcations l3 and engaging the hook IS with the pin I l, this locates the pin [5 in the V-shaped notch 20, and places the finger 2| in a position to insure an appropriate quick releasable connection between the parts 9 and In.

With this type of a coupling it is evident that the rod 8 can pivot in one direction only, that is it can swing into substantially obtuse angular relationship in one direction only. The associa- 35 tion of the lug 2| with the pin l5 prevents angling of the rod in the opposite direction, that is, in a horizontal plane. Incidentally the word hori-. zontal is used advisedly, having reference only to the drawings, and particularly Figs. 1, 2 and 4. 4 That is to say, since the device is usable in both horizontal and vertical directions, it is obvious that the description relates to the drawings only.

A coupling of the type specifically described and illustrated is believed to be competent and 45 reliable for the duties to be performed. It possesses requisite stability and is otherwise proportionately'efficient to aptly measure up to the requirements of an assemblage of this type.

It is thought that persons skilled in the art 50 to which the invention relates will be able to obtain a clearunderstanding of the invention after considering the description in connection with the drawings. Therefore, a more lengthly description is regarded as unnecessary. 55

-tice, if desired.

' prising a pair of complemental rods, coupling means separably joining adjacent ends of said rods and comprising maleand female coupling units, one unit embodying spaced parallel furcations forming'a slot therebetween and having a pair of transverse connecting pins extending therebetween equidistantly spaced from the inner end of the slot, the other unit comprising a.

- shank for location in said slot, said shank com' prising a hook extending between the pins to take over one pin whereby said units are interlocked against endwise separative movement outwardly of each other and swingable relatively into angular relation, and a finger adapted to bear against the outer side of the other pin to stabilize the hook, said finger cooperating with the inner end of the slot to block relative swinging of said sections in one direction and being swingable around said other pin during swinging movement of the interlocked units in the other direction.

GEORGE BURTON. 

